Carries Book Reviews

Hidden Enemies
Andrea Bills
Publication date: September 12th 2017
Genres: Adult, Romance, Suspense

If Tayler Kline’s father was the king of the hotel chain business, then she was the princess. From the time she was born, she had been groomed to work for her father, and one day take over his dynasty.

Tayler had never questioned her predetermined life plans. Not until an explosion rips through Kline Industries offices, and during her escape from the explosion two men try to kill her. Luckily, for Tayler her dad had always been a paranoid man. The night before he had saddled her with her usual company issued bodyguard, Calvin. As chaos consumes Tayler’s life, there’s one person who remains her steadfast protector, Calvin.

Calvin’s first day on the job he had busted the then reckless seventeen-year-old Tayler as she snuck out of her father’s home. She had captured Calvin’s heart from that first moment. As much as he wanted her he, though, he knew there was no room for a poor boy from a small town, in the hotel princess’ life.

After two attempts on Tayler’s life, Calvin has no option but to take her and go on the run. With only each other to rely on, the run down motels, and dive bars they’re hiding out in have the attraction between them building. Calvin’s no longer the security guard that annoys her at every turn. He’s a man who has stolen one too many kisses, that have left Tayler breathless and riddled with desire. She’s the woman that can’t stop undressing him with her eyes, leaving him wanting more than he deserves from a woman out of his league.

Explosions rumble in and out of the bedroom in this romantic suspense. Will their years of friendship turn into more? Can Calvin figure out where the enemy hides, while he struggles to keep his hands to himself?

Add to Goodreads

Author Bio:

Andrea spends her time while she’s not dreaming up friends and villains alike chasing after her two kids and husband at their home in rural West Virginia.

Her guilty pleasure once the kids are asleep is to read. She reads everything she can get her hands on and then she reads it over and over and over again. Her all time favorite book is secretly tucked away under her bed looking very war battered from the hundreds of reads.

The Power Series is her breakthrough series as an indie author. She attributes her writing skills to her overactive imagination, and her husbands wacky dreams.

Amazon / Facebook / Goodreads

The Woodlands Series Box Set
Lauren Nicolle Taylor
Published by: Clean Teen Publishing
Publication date: August 7th 2017
Genres: Dystopian, Romance, Young Adult

Do you dare enter the Woodlands?

As the last livable spot on Earth, it’s the only home Rosa and Joseph have ever known. But now they need to escape, or Rosa will be trapped forever in a horrific government program. A dystopian page-turner with over 750 five-star ratings on Goodreads. The Woodlands Series is perfect for fans of The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, The Divergent Series by Veronica Roth, and The Jewel Series by Amy Ewing. Readers can purchase this boxed set at a significant discount over the cost to purchase each novel individually. This is a complete series boxed set.

The Woodlands is an Award-Winning Finalist in the “Fiction: Young Adult” category of the USA Best Book Awards, as well as a Semifinalist in The Kindle Book Awards by the Kindle Book Review.

“Lauren Taylor’s writing is powerfully descriptive; she is a master of words and similes.” – Author Erica Kiefer

“It seems so rare these days to find a dystopian with an original vein in it. The Woodlands Succeeds.” -Author Pauline Creeden

“I went into this story with my own ideas, but they were obliterated by what I found instead. I was so happy to be wrong because this story touched my heart deeply in a way that I never expected.” – Reviewer Amber Douglas Mcallister

“This book was fantastic! Spectacular! It had everything I look for in a book: Action, Adventure, and even romance!” – Reviewer Jocelyn Sanchez

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo

—

EXCERPT:

The helicopters were stationed at the rim of Ring One, just inside the low, sandy-colored wall that surrounded the center podium. They were waiting, crouching like black angels ready to lift us from this place, this hell, into an unknown world. A Guardian in black uniform with gold trim walked to the front of the choppers and signaled for us to come forward. Another one threw the bags in the cargo hold as he read from his list. Three girls and eight boys. Joseph’s name was not on the list. I felt a flood of relief that was washed away by panic. I was barely holding myself together as it was, seeing him was liable to make me fall to pieces. But he was supposed to be here.

Paulo’s hand was on my back, pushing me towards the helicopter like I was an uncooperative apple on the conveyor belt. I was trying so hard to muster up some courage. Today I was leaving the only home I had ever known. I would never see my mother again. I felt the anxiety rising, the crushing pain of the separation I was about to suffer. Suddenly the grey-washed town didn’t look so horrible. It was home after all, I guess. I told myself it was fear that was making me feel this way. It didn’t help.

My mother, who had been quietly following us around like a dazed puppy, pulled me to her in a tight embrace. She whispered, “Sorry,” in my ear before stepping back, fists clenched, showing the appropriate restraint. Some other mothers were crying and holding their children as the Guardian wrenched them away and led them onto the aircraft.

My mother’s face was my own, the way she moved mirrored my own movements and mannerisms, but that’s where the similarities ended. Although raised by this woman, I was nothing like her. For the first time, I saw things from her perspective. Getting into trouble all the time, never showing Paulo anything other than contempt. I must have been such a frustration to her.

They called my name. Paulo put his hands firmly on my shoulders, holding me in my place. His intense stare was impossible to look away from. “Don’t shame your family,” he spat at me. And with that, he made it easy to leave. I could feel the blades starting to move, my hair whipping around my face. I stripped away the fear and anxiety, leaving a girl that was fierce, empowered by his hatred.

“Don’t worry, Paulo, I’ll stir it up, make a little noise!” I shouted through the wind. The Guardian that let me sign up was watching me, probably regretting his decision. My mother was standing rigidly, her handmade skirt billowing as the air churned around her, her hand outstretched, pleading. I could see it in her eyes—please Rosa, don’t cause more trouble. She couldn’t stop me, no one ever could. Paulo was already walking away, his back to me. Behind my mother stood a man, one blue eye, one brown, smiling. He lifted his hand to wave. I raised my hand, confused. The chopper lurched awkwardly and I was knocked back into the cargo hold.

“Sit down!” the Guardian snapped at me. I quickly found a spot and strapped myself in. The others were staring at me, eyes wide. The Guardian tapped the pilot on the shoulder. “Wait, there’s one more.”

He bounded in, bag in hand, and casually threw it on the pile and scanned the seats. There was plenty of room on the other side but he squeezed his bulky form between me and the boy I was sitting next to.

Suddenly we were in the air. When the Guardian wasn’t looking, Joseph slipped his hand over mine. Warmth calmed the agitation I felt, like pouring gold over lead, glowing. We stayed that way the entire ride. Eyes forward. Impossibly trying to anticipate what may lie ahead.

Author Bio:

Lauren Nicolle Taylor lives in the lush Adelaide Hills. The daughter of a Malaysian nuclear physicist and an Australian scientist, she was expected to follow a science career path, attending Adelaide University and completing a Health Science degree with Honours in obstetrics and gynaecology.

She then worked in health research for a short time before having her first child. Due to their extensive health issues, Lauren spent her twenties as a full-time mother/carer to her three children. When her family life settled down, she turned to writing.

She is a 2014 Kindle Book Awards Semi-finalist and a USA Best Book Awards Finalist.

Website / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads

GIVEAWAY!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Pretty, Nasty, Lovely by Rosalind Noonan
My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Emma Danelski was very hopeful when she pledged Theta Pi at Merriwether University thinking this would bring friendship, fun, and popularity to her college years. However, Emma found herself in the midst of a horrible secret that she has no choice but to keep amidst the petty rules, bullying, and manipulation she had come to face at the sorority.

But then even more terrible news hits the sisterhood when one of their own commits suicide by jumping from a local bridge. The investigation seems to surround Emma as she finds herself wondering just what had happened to her sorority sister. Now Emma needs to decide what secrets are worth keeping and to what limits will she go to protect hers.

Pretty, Nasty, Lovely by Rosalind Noonan is one of those books that despite it’s flaws it still kept my attention and kept the pages turning to find out just what would end up happening in the story. I would warn though that the beginning to this one was quite disturbing as there are hints to a murdered baby but the reader is not given the details to the event until much later on in the book.

Between the shock of the start of the book and then the upcoming suicide the plot was what pushed the book all throughout. The characters didn’t seem to be very well developed at times as the book jumps from one event to another. I thought to myself several times I would have liked a bit more development and flow to the action but in the end I would rate this one at 3.5 stars as I did become completely hooked in knowing the outcome.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

Dominion Rising Collection
Publication date: August 8th 2017
Genres: Adult, Fantasy, Science Fiction

Find all the Sci-Fi and Fantasy reads you’ve been craving in one fantastic set!

Whether it’s alien invasion or dark fairytales, heart-pounding galactic adventures or cyberpunk romance, Dominion Rising will satisfy with a thrilling mix of 23 BRAND NEW novels set in fantastical realms. Sword and sorcery, far-flung galactic empires, alternative history, epic magic, slipstream futures: this collection of carefully selected, exclusive novels is sure to please and delight readers of speculative fiction.

Over five thousand pages packed with aliens, faeries, vampires, gargoyles, warriors, telepaths, space pirates, starship captains, hapless mercenaries, street urchins, robots, cyber-enhanced humans, badass heroines, and lost princesses.

Dominion Rising brings you a galaxy of talented authors, including New York Times bestselling authors Gwynn White, Margo Bond Collins, Tom Shutt, Felix R. Savage and Erin St Pierre; USA Todaybestselling authors P.K. Tyler, Anthea Sharp, S.M. Schmitz, K.J. Colt, Dean F. Wilson, Lisa Blackwood, Marilyn Peake, JC Andrijeski and Erin Hayes; and award-winning and Amazon bestselling authors S.M. Blooding, Melanie Karsak, Timothy C. Ward, Daniel Arthur Smith, Tony Bertauski, Rebecca Rode, Cheri Lasota, Ann Christy, Becca Andre, Logan Snyder, Ella Summers, and Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy notable Samuel Peralta.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo / Google Play

GIVEAWAYS!
Dominion Rising Pre-Order Celebration
https://js.gleam.io/e.js

More chances to win:

Link to our Facebook party:

New giveaways daily: https://www.facebook.com/events/636278019899828/

Signed Canvas and Paperback Giveaway

Check out our Instagram Giveaway by following #DominionRising

#DOMINIONRISING BOOKS, SWAG AND MORE #GIVEAWAY

The authors of Dominion Rising are bringing you brand new 23 science and fantasy stories for just $0.99—and you could win big just by reposting this post and talking about the giveaway with the hashtag #DominionRising. Ends August 15, account must be public.

Addicted
Krys Fenner
(Dark Road Series, #1)
Publication date: September 29th 2017
Genres: Contemporary, Young Adult

Sixteen-year-old Bella Kynaston has been the victim of a brutal rape, by someone she can only describe as ‘the scar-faced man.’ With little recollection of what happened, she must somehow rebuild her life. Being the person she once was proves more difficult than she imagined.

To complicate matters, Bella has just met Jeremiah Detrone, the new guy in school. He’s attractive, funny, and smart. All things she’s ever wanted in a boyfriend. Too bad she’s conflicted over so many unexpected emotions. Without realizing it, she falls down a rabbit hole and begins walking a dangerous line between addiction and self-preservation.

As Bella works together with the police to bring her attackers to justice, will she be able to see it through to the end? And even if she does, will it only bring her more pain and misery? Or will she find an anchor in Jeremiah and figure out how to move forward?

Add to Goodreads

Author Bio:

Krys Fenner has been infinitely passionate about writing and helping people for as long as she can remember. To date, she has published two books, numerous poems, and is now avidly working on a fantasy series. Krys received an Associate of Arts in Psychology and is currently working on her B.A.

To find out more about Krys Fenner and her upcoming book releases, visit her official website: http://www.krysfenner.co

Website / Goodreads / Facebook